Google’s August 2024 Core Update - A Blessing or a Curse?
Empire Flippers
The #1 curated marketplace for buying and selling established, profitable websites and online businesses.
This Week in M&A Issue #147
Hello chums! Today’s trend of the week is “plant milk”.
Yesterday, August 22nd, was World Plant Milk Day, a celebration of dairy-free alternatives like oat, almond, pea, rice, and coconut milk.
These plant-based options are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with consumers embracing these substitutes for various reasons—dietary preferences, allergies, or simply wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.
In the U.S., plant-based milk has been frothing up the milk industry. From 2019 to 2022, sales of plant-based milk grew by 19%, while traditional dairy milk sales dropped by 4%. Interestingly, nearly half of Americans buy both plant-based and dairy milk, with almond milk being the top pick among plant-based options.
Searches for ‘plant milk’ in the US have steadily risen over the last few years, with approximately 17K monthly searches for the term, up 7% in the past year.
You can milk this trend by blogging about the different types of plant milks, creating an eBook full of plant milk-based recipes, or by launching your own plant milk products.
Today we have for you:?
And
Alright, let’s dive in.
Received this email from a friend? Save them having to forward you emails every week by subscribing.
Search Shake-Up: Google’s Buggy Rollout
Google launched its August 2024 Core Update last week. However, the August 15th rollout didn't go entirely smoothly.
Alongside the update, a search ranking bug appeared, affecting many search results. After initially promising a resolution within 12 hours, Google eventually fixed the bug four days later. This bug caused additional instability in search rankings, adding to the volatility caused by the core update.
The core update is expected to take about a month to fully roll out, meaning search rankings might continue to fluctuate for a while. One of the main goals of the update is to give more visibility to small and independent websites that create original and valuable content. Google has indicated that feedback from creators over the past few months played a significant role in shaping this update.
To help users navigate these changes, Google has updated its core update help documentation. The new guidance offers clearer advice on understanding traffic drops, improving content, and assessing the impact of updates.
So far, most websites haven't seen major shifts in their rankings, however, there are signs of hope for sites that were hit hard by last year's September 2023 Helpful Content Update.
SEO expert Glenn Gabe has been tracking the impact on over 380 sites affected by the September update. He reports that 47 of these sites are now showing positive movement. While it's still early, these changes are encouraging for site owners hoping to recover.
Another positive development is the return of rich result image thumbnails for some publishers who lost them after previous updates, suggesting that the August 2024 Core Update is helping some sites regain features that enhance their search visibility.
As the update continues to roll out, it's uncertain whether these early gains will stick. It’s still early days, but here's hoping for a positive outcome after the previous hard-hitting updates!
Conversions
Load or Leave: How Fast Should Your Site Be?
How long are consumers willing to wait for a website to load? The answer is; not very long at all.
A recent survey shows that in 2024, the average person will wait just eight seconds for a website to load before moving on. If your site is slow or unresponsive, you could easily lose visitors to faster competitors.
The survey by OnePoll for Forbes Advisor found that almost half of users (48%) will switch to another site if yours doesn’t load quickly. This shows why it’s crucial to have a fast-loading site—every second really matters.
While eight seconds doesn’t seem very long, it’s actually much longer than the average page loading time recommended by Google.
Google’s John Mueller has recommended aiming for page load times of under 3 seconds since 2016, primarily to improve crawling efficiency rather than ranking. Google noted in 2017 that bounce rates rise by 32% when page load time extends from 1 second to 3 seconds.
Most websites fall within Google’s guidelines, with an average load time of 2.5 seconds on desktop and 8.6 seconds on mobile in 2023. This is vital as eCommerce sites that load within one second convert 2.5x more visitors than those that load in five seconds.
So, if you want to keep your audience engaged and avoid losing them to competitors, prioritize fast-loading web pages.?
HIDDEN GEM
Listing #74689 - $314,112.00
Avg. Monthly Profit - $9,239.00
amazon fba | home | 34x
Launched in September 2021, this Amazon FBA business is registered through Amazon Brand Registry and features 3 SKUs related to adhesive. The well-established business requires just 12 hours per week to maintain
We’re highlighting this business this week because of its following strengths:
YouTube
Why Faceless YouTube Channels Are the Next Big Thing
A faceless YouTube channel is a type of channel where the creator remains anonymous by not appearing on camera, using voiceovers, text, animations, or screen recordings instead to deliver content.
The question is, are these types of channels profitable and sustainable? And will anyone buy them when you decide to sell your channel?
The answer is a resounding yes!
In the last few months alone, we have seen an increased demand for faceless YouTube sites on our marketplace. With Google becoming more unpredictable, many entrepreneurs are shifting to YouTube as a reliable alternative to traditional content sites.
领英推荐
But what makes a faceless YouTube channel valuable?
This video kicks off a new series where we dive into the world of high six-figure to million-dollar YouTube channels, breaking down what makes them tick and how they're valued.
If you own a YouTube channel, or are thinking of buying one, this new video series will help you confidently navigate the world of faceless YouTube channels.
eCommerce
Drive More Sales with Shopify’s New YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program
Shopify and YouTube are expanding their partnership, offering Shopify merchants a powerful new way to drive sales and reach a wider audience.
Starting today, Shopify Plus and Advanced merchants in the U.S. can now join the YouTube Shopping affiliate program through the Google & YouTube app on Shopify. This means you can now connect with thousands of YouTube creators who will feature your products in their videos, expanding your reach and boosting your sales.
Joining the program is straightforward. Simply follow the instructions in the Google & YouTube app on Shopify to get started. You can easily manage your affiliate program, view analytics, and monitor content and product performance directly from Google Merchant Center.
For YouTube creators, this update opens up access to a range of new brands. Plus, a new Chrome extension allows U.S. creators to save and tag your products while browsing your site, making it simpler for them to include your products in their content and track how much they earn.
This expansion is part of YouTube's broader push into e-commerce, driven by a slowdown in digital advertising. With over 30 billion hours of shopping-related videos watched in 2023 and a 25% increase in watch time for shopping content, YouTube's efforts are showing promising results.
Overall, this expanded partnership between Shopify and YouTube opens up exciting new opportunities for both Shopify merchants and YouTube creators, making it easier for you to grow your business and stand out from the competition.
Read All About It!
The billion-dollar one-person SEO agency: fiction or the future?
Buying a Shopify Store is the shortcut to success: Shopify M&A insights
Amazon allows sellers to ditch physical returns: Amazon Returnless Resolutions
FTC's non-compete ban gets blocked: potential appeal ahead
eCommerce companies worth investing in: stocking up on stocks
Events
Meet Our New CEO for a Night of Networking in London!
Join us at The Star of Kings, London, on August 29th for a night of networking, high-value education, and the opportunity to learn how you can exit your business for 7 or 8-figures.
Our new CEO, Andy Allaway, will be starting the night off with a short presentation that can help you exit your business for the highest valuation possible - even in today's turbulent economy.
After the presentation, there will be a Q&A section and then you'll have the opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs.
Space is limited and there are only a few places left, so reserve your spot now.
Do you have any questions for Andy about buying or selling businesses? Submit your questions and we'll forward them to Andy to make sure he answers them at the event!
Also, let us know if you'd like us to host a Social M&A in YOUR city! We are planning to do more of these down the road to meet our audience face-to-face to help them reach their business goals.?
Business Growth
The Secret to Expanding Your Business with a Stacked Offer Strategy
Starting with one product—like a service, subscription, or digital product—is a great way to learn how to sell and attract customers. But as your online business grows, expanding your offerings is key.
That’s where Justin Welsh’s Profit Pyramid comes in.
The Profit Pyramid is a simple, five-tier model to help you scale your business effectively. Each tier offers different types of products or services, with increasing value and price as you move up.
Lead Magnet (The Base)
Start with a lead magnet, a free resource that solves a specific problem for your target audience. For example, if you’re an online chef, offer a “Super Parents Perfect Shopping List” in exchange for email addresses. This helps your potential customers and grows your email list.
Micro-Offer
Next is the micro-offer, a low-priced item that addresses a specific issue. For instance, a “Month of Meals Planner” for $19 could help busy parents plan their meals, building on the shopping list from the lead magnet.
Core Offer
Your core offer is your main product, typically priced between $97 and $497. For example, a course called “Mastering The Family Dinner” might include meal planning lessons and bonuses like recipes and budgeting tips.
High-Ticket Offer
At this tier, you offer premium, high-ticket services. For instance, personalized 1:1 cooking lessons tailored to specific family needs. This tier caters to your most committed customers seeking customized solutions.
Continuity Program (The Peak)
At the top is the continuity program—an ongoing subscription providing continuous value. An example could be a $99/month membership offering exclusive recipes, workshops, and community access, generating stable, recurring revenue.
Implementing The Profit Pyramid Build your pyramid from the base up, ensuring each tier smoothly leads to the next. Use feedback to refine your offerings and adjust as needed. This approach helps you cater to various price points, increase customer lifetime value, and diversify your income.
Justin’s Profit Pyramid is a super useful tool for growing your online business by structuring your offerings to meet different customer needs and steadily increase revenue.
Meme of the Week
Been somewhere cool or seen a meme that made you chuckle?
Send us a DM on Instagram (@empireflippers) with your favorite meme or nomad shot and we'll include it in the next email!